Educating Ethan Book Tour
Friday is our favorite week day. We host the Educating Ethan Book Tour today and welcome everyone. Educating Ethan is a sexy, romantic novelette by author Jennifer Lynne (read my review here). The author was nice enough to answer our question in her guest blog below and share an excerpt. Jennifer Lynne is also holding a giveaway so keep reading to find out how to enter. Enjoy the rest of the day!
Even though it may be 2012, it seems like some things still haven't changed that much. Older men date and marry younger women, but when women do it they're called "cougars" and sometimes become punch lines in jokes (ex. Demi and Ashton). This is the way it seems in the US. As an Australian author, do you see the same things in your country and how did you approach this topic when writing Educating Ethan?
Thank you to Reader Girls for having me here as today's guest author, and for posing such an interesting question. It seems to me as if men have been dating women younger than themselves since the beginning of time. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, these days in Australia men are on average 2.5 to 3 years older than their female partners. I'm in my forties, and I think there has been a shift in society that allows women a greater freedom of choice in an adult partner, but clearly, the shift isn't enough for full equality between the sexes.
So what really happens when an older woman dates and/or marries a man younger than herself?
I wouldn't go so far as to say that such a relationship becomes a punch line in a joke, but I do think there would still be a bit of eyebrow-raising and a lack of acceptance of an older woman/younger man relationship here in Australia as much as anywhere else. I think people do use the term "cougar" when talking about a woman who dates younger men – with all the stereotype connotations of that term around a "hot" and somewhat predatory older chick wanting to reel in a young "stud" for sex.
I consciously wanted to challenge that sterotype when I wrote Educating Ethan.
My cougar story has a deliberate twist. Yes, I wrote a story about an older woman and a younger man. But it is also a story about two people who are falling in love and trying to deal with all the prior emotional baggage that we all bring to a new and developing relationship. Regardless of age. Without wanting to give too much away, in the end I hope that Ida and Ethan's age becomes almost irrelevant to anyone who reads Educating Ethan. Here's the book blurb:
Ida Deloraine intends to build herself a new life and a new catering career after a painful divorce. When the much younger Ethan Holt moves in across the street, an innocent flirtation quickly becomes serious when the two realize their age difference is no barrier to all-consuming passion. But Ethan is the exact opposite of what Ida is looking for in a sexual partner. In her eyes he is young and vibrant, with his life and his dreams still ahead of him, whereas hers are all in the past. Can Ethan, who is fighting his own demons in the form of a car accident, failed marriage, and forced career change, convince Ida to overcome the past and live for the moment? And just who is educating who in this cougar encounter?
Excerpt from Educating Ethan:
Possibility, she thought. He represents the possibility of excitement. Of passion. The transient headiness of lust about to be fulfilled. All the things that most women wanted and rarely got. All the things that she wanted and had never truly had before.
"Ethan, do you mind if I ask how old you are?" She strove for dispassionate interest, took a careful sip of her wine, then sat where he indicated— on a bench seat in a little breakfast nook. But her glass clattered hard on the windowsill when she put it down.
"No, I don't mind," he answered. "I'm twenty-five. And you're…what? Thirtyish?"
"Thirty-six."
"Wow, you don't look that old."
"Oh—kay."
Her tone was flat, and he flushed in response. "Shit! Sorry, that didn't come out right. I meant—"
"It's okay, Ethan. I think maybe I should—"
"Don't go! Hell!" He reached out to stop her as she began to rise, and then exhaled noisily. "I'm an idiot, Ida. I didn't mean it that way. I meant it…as a compliment, believe it or not. You look a lot younger than thirty-six. That's what I meant."
She saw genuine dismay in the depths of his eyes, and something in her relaxed.
"It's okay," she said again, but this time she meant it. "Thanks."
He sat heavily beside her and leaned close. That warm male scent enveloped her, elusive and yet tangible enough to send her heart rate into overdrive. But he was still frowning. She reached out to trace his jawline, and a hint of stubble rasped against her fingertip. A firm jaw; stubborn-looking. Manly.
"Relax, Ethan," she said. "I won't bite. Unless you want me to, that is."
Purchase Educating Ethan from Breathless Press
Jennifer Lynne is a multi-published author who writes sensual and erotic romance from her home in Melbourne, Australia. She has two novellas published with Red Sage, including Seducing Serena in Secrets Volume 28 Sensual Cravings, and Pandora's Gift. Her first sensual romance with Breathless Press, Educating Ethan, was published in February. Jen lives in hope that readers will continue to enjoy her novella-length tales of love and lust!
Find Jennifer on the web at:
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Giveaway question
What do you think about the so-called "cougar" phenomenon? Has society changed enough that older women (like me!) have a greater ability to choose outside the box – if they so desire? Or do you think any woman who chooses to date a younger man is still risking either non-acceptance or being stereotyped?
I'll be popping in to chat and respond to any comments you might have – don't forget that if you leave a comment on the post, you'll automatically go in the draw to win a $20 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card. Winner will be announced at the end of my blog tour on March 30th.
If you are following my tour, I'll be stopping next at http://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com/ on March 26th.
Thank you so much for having me here today, and I look forward to the discussion.
Tour hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.
Hi i think it is more acceptable for older women to date or marry younger men. I had a friend who married a youger guy and they were very happy. However, she died first and he was lost for a long time but married again to an older women as well and they are happy. So you can be happy after all. thanks joannie jscddmj[at]aol[dot]com
ReplyDeleteHi Joannie, I'm very sorry to hear about your friend who passed away, but I'm glad to hear she was happy in her relationship. Interesting that your friend's husband chose an older woman second time around as well. And very glad that they are happy also. I think it so much depends on the people involved, and is not a choice about "numbers" - in relation to age. Thanks for your comment!
DeleteThank you to Reader Girls for having me to visit, and also thankyou for the interesting question you posed. I love interesting discussions, and I suspect this will be one :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer! Thanks for popping in to join the discussion. I'm so glad you're pushing the boundaries in regards to age in relationships. Numbers shouldn't matter as long as there are two adults who feel connected. Educating Ethan was refreshing to read:)
DeleteLaurie
I love that you are challenging the stereotype. There are so many more important factors in a relationship than age.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Defintely, Marybelle! The most important is the emotional connection between the (adult) people involved. If that feels right, then it doesn't matter if one is older or younger than the other. Thanks for your comment!
DeleteThank you for hosting Jennifer today.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Goddess Fish!
DeleteI think it is becoming more comon now than it used to be. Still not as frequent as with the men. somehow much older men think it's cute to have a barely turned 21 hanging on their arm. I think women are actually looking for a soul mate, age not being important.
ReplyDeleteYou know what, Mom Jane? I think you might have hit the nail on the head with your comment. Sometimes I forget that men and women are quite often looking for different things from an encounter or a relationship. Women are definitely more inclined to be looking for a soulmate, I suspect, and therefore age is less important to us women - it is more about connecting with the right person. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteHi Jennifer. I read Educating Ethan and it was wonderful. I think that the there have always been cougars we just gave them a name. Is it more acceptable now, you bet. Women like Demi Moore and Cher have made it so. My sister-in-law is a cougar. She was 2 years older than my brother, though you'd never know it. You need two things for a cougar relationship to work. A woman who is young at heart and a man who is old enough to know what he wants and brave enough to go after it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing Educating Ethan. I love books where the heroine is older whether the man is younger or older as long as he's smart and sexy, it doesn't matter.
Cindy
Hi Cindy! So glad you stopped by today, and also thrilled that you loved Educating Ethan! The cougar label is one that often has negative connotations, but we don't call older men who date younger women by a similar negative label! I think you are right - not only does the woman need to have a certain mental attitude, but the man needs to have courage to go against the more socially accepted older man/younger woman scenario. But when they do, boy can it be good! Thanks for commenting :)
DeleteI think that things have changed, but I think there is still a stigma. There are still more comments when it's an older woman/younger man rather than the reverse--comments like "cradle robber," etc. BUT, really, it's nobody's business but the consenting adults involved.
ReplyDeleteI agree Catherine. I think we have definitely come some way towards acceptance, but I would say there is probably still a way to go. The lack of a similar "cougar" term for older men who date younger women is an indicator that no, not quite equal yet. Thanks for commenting today!
DeleteI think things have changed to the point where the older woman/younger man couple is accepted in most circles without the stigma it used to carry. I feel the same about the taller woman/shorter man couple. And I say, why not to both? If it's right, it works!
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, thanks for dropping by! Yes, I hadn't thought about the taller woman/shorter man scenario in the same context, but you are right. If the relationship is working, the age - or the height - shouldn't be relevant.
DeleteI think it is a little more 'acceptable', but I do not think that it is 'accepted' if that makes sense. I think with the modern beauty aids and better health of women sometimes it is hard to tell age especially when everyone is busy and not paying close attention to strangers or mere acquaintances. I think the trouble would be amongst close friends or family Personally if two people (no matter their gender) really care for each other, I'm not really that worried about how old they are.
ReplyDeleteGood question! I would love a chance to read the book. Thanks for the post!
Hi Sophia Rose, that makes perfect sense. I agree - there is a difference between being more acceptable, and being accepted. And it is definitely not fully accepted yet. More so than it used to be, though I think women do make use of beauty aids more readily than men, and therefore can hide our age a little better, but it is sad that we still have to do that, isn't it, in order to minimize that stigma of the age difference.
DeleteI think it's more acceptable. Someone I know (in her 60's) was dating a man in his thirties ,it worked for her. But it's not for everyone.
ReplyDeleteHi Renald, thanks for stopping by! It is definitely more acceptable than it was, perhaps even a few years ago. But there is still a stigma attached to the older woman/younger man scenario, I think. Glad to hear your friend found happiness with the right guy!
DeleteI want to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the book tour for Educating Ethan. I’ve had a wonderful time chatting over the past three weeks - meeting fellow book lovers and engaging in some really in-depth discussions about love and relationships. I hope we can keep in touch via Twitter, Facebook or at my own blog.
ReplyDeleteThe giveaway draw is now closed and I’ll be announcing the WINNERS on my blog in a few hours' time: http://www.jenniferlynne.com.au/blog
You can find me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/JenniLynnAuthor or FB at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Lynne-Romance-Author/297504180262670
Once again, thank you everyone!